We rounded up some of the most majestic castles (and a couple of palaces too) around the world, from a medieval castle in a walled city in Wales to a château sitting on the shores of Switzerland's Lake Geneva.

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Miramare Castle, Trieste, Italy

Although it sits on the Italian Gulf of Trieste, Miramare was built for an Austrian Archduke and his wife. The castle combines gothic, medieval, and Renaissance architecture, and is surrounded by a beautiful park

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Eltz Castle, Wierschem, Germany

Eltz Castle is still owned by the Eltz family — a family that has owned and lived in the castle for 33 generations, starting in the 12th century. It sits in the picturesque forests of Western Germany's Rhineland.

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Château Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France

Château Chambord is one of France's best examples of Renaissance architecture. The château was constructed in the 16th century, and has remained relatively unchanged since then. Walt Disney used it as inspiration for the Beast's castle in "Beauty and the Beast."

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Himeji Castle, Himeji, Japan

Himeji Castle is made up of 82 buildings. According to UNESCO, the castle is the "finest surviving example of Japanese castle architecture." It sits on a hill overlooking the Harima Plain, and was owned by the Shogun until the late 1800s, when a new government took over.

The castle features a unique mix of white plaster and wood, and its multiple layers of roof only add to its striking look.

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Warwick Castle, Warwickshire, England

Warwick Castle started out as a wooden structure, before being rebuilt into stone in the 12th century. It was a stronghold for many years, and was converted into a country home in the 17th century. It's currently owned by an entertainment company.

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Bran Castle, Bran, Romania

Perched atop the lush hills of Transylvania, Bran Castle has a rich history that dates back to the 14th century. Queen Marie of Romania frequented the castle, but most people know it as the inspiration behind Count Dracula's castle.

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Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau, Germany

Neuschwantstein served as the inspiration for not one but two Disney castles (Cinderella's and Sleeping Beauty's), and was originally built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II. Nestled high up in the forests of southwestern Bavaria, this castle was meant to be a retreat for the king.

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Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal

This colorful palace is a prime example of 19th century Romanticism in architecture, though it also features Moorish influences. Pena was built by King Ferdinand the II, who wanted the palace to be visible from any part of the beautiful park it sits in.

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Malbork Castle (Castle of the Teutonic Order), Malbork, Poland

Dating all the way back to the 1200s, this castle was once a fortified monastery built by monks of the Teutonic Order. Two separate restorations — one in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and one after WWII — were critical in bringing the castle back to its original condition. Today, it's one of the best examples of a medieval brick castle.

The building's surrounding scenery is just as majestic as the castle itself, as it sits on the banks of the River Nogat in northern Poland.

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Conwy Castle, Conwy, Wales

Constructed by Edward I during his conquest of Wales in the late 13th century, Conwy Castle is located in a walled medieval town, and is one of the best-preserved tourist attractions in Northern Wales.

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Château de Chillon, Veytaux, Switzerland

This island castle sits on the shores of Lake Geneva and helped inform Walt Disney's vision for Prince Eric's castle in "The Little Mermaid." The château also inspired various writers, like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Lord Bryon.

Alcázar of Segovia, Segovia, Spain

The Alcázar of Segovia offers stunning views of the city of Segovia. It started off as the fortress of the Kings of Castile, then turned into a royal palace, then a state prison, and then a royal college of artillery. It's now a museum, and one of Spain's most popular monuments.

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Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland

Glamis Castle has impressive credentials: It was the setting for Shakespeare's "Macbeth," as well as the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth. Glamis is currently inhabited by the Strathmore family, who inherited the castle in 1972.

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Orava Castle, Oravský Podzámok, Slovakia

The Orava Castle, which is perched on a rock above the Orava River, served as a military and administrative center for Slovakia's Ovara region; it also protected a critical road leading to Poland. The castle dates back to the 1200s, but was rebuilt in the 1800s after a fire.

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Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg, Germany

Overlooking the city, Heidelberg Castle was used as a residence for over 400 years, until it was struck by lightning in the late 1700s. The castle is now mostly ruins: for a time citizens even used its stones to build their own homes.

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Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Ireland

In the late 1960s, the Kilkenny Castle was turned over to the inhabitants of Kilkenny. Before then, it served as the residence of the Earl of Pembroke and the Butler family. Due to a number of renovations and additions made throughout the years, the castle is a combination of a plethora of architectural styles.

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, England

Still inhabited by the Percy family — the castle has been in that family for more than 700 years — Alnwick Castle is the seat of the Duke of Northumberland. It was constructed in the 11th century, after the Norman Conquest.

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Royal Palace of Olite, Olite, Spain

The Olite Palace has been described as a symbol of opulence and elegance during the Middle Ages. It was known for its gilded rooms and exotic garden and zoo, as well as for the jousting and bullfighting tournaments it hosted.

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Lismore Castle, County Waterford, Ireland

Since Lismore Castle is the current home of the Duke of Devonshire, most of the castle isn't open to the public. The gardens are though, as well as the west wing of the castle, which includes an art gallery. The rest of the castle is available for rent.